Sumter National Forest
Encyclopedia
The Sumter National Forest is one of two forests in South Carolina
that are managed together by the United States Forest Service
, the other being the Francis Marion National Forest
. The Sumter National Forest consists of 370442 acres (1,499.1 km²) which are divided into several non-contiguous sections in western South Carolina. Overall, in descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Oconee, Union, Newberry, McCormick, Edgefield, Abbeville
, Laurens, Chester
, Fairfield, Greenwood, and Saluda counties. Forest headquarters of both South Carolina forests are located together in the state's capital city of Columbia
.
proclaimed the Sumter a separate National Forest. The Sumter is named for Thomas Sumter
, a leader of patriot regular and military forces in the South Carolina piedmont during the American Revolution
and war hero. The lands that became the Sumter were predominantly eroding old farm fields and gullies or extensively logged forests. Once the lands became part of the Sumter, the process of controlling soil erosion, regulating the flow of streams and the production of timber began. Over time, the land has been slowly restored and has become productive again.
, Cheohee, Tugaloo
, Toxaway, Keowee
, Oconee, Tamassee, and Jocassee rivers or creeks. The Ranger District is named for Andrew Pickens
, commander of South Carolina rebel militia during the American Revolution. The ranger district offices are located near Mountain Rest
.
, just between Union and Newberry. Interstate 26 runs along the southwest side of the district. US Hwy. 176 and SC Hwy. 72 crisscross the district.
The ranger district offices are located in Edgefield
.
, the only wilderness to straddle three states (South Carolina, Georgia
, and North Carolina
). The Sumter also has, as its western border, the Chattooga River
, a Wild and Scenic River. The Andrew Pickens District is also home to 15 waterfalls with drops ranging from 12 feet (4 m) to 75 feet (23 m).
. The Andrew Pickens ranger district has Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests
.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
that are managed together by the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, the other being the Francis Marion National Forest
Francis Marion National Forest
The Francis Marion National Forest is located north of Charleston, South Carolina. It is named for revolutionary war hero Francis Marion, who was known to the British as the Swamp Fox. It lies entirely within the Middle Atlantic coastal forests ecoregion....
. The Sumter National Forest consists of 370442 acres (1,499.1 km²) which are divided into several non-contiguous sections in western South Carolina. Overall, in descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Oconee, Union, Newberry, McCormick, Edgefield, Abbeville
Abbeville County, South Carolina
Abbeville County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2010, its population was 25,147. Its county seat is Abbeville. It is the first county in the United States alphabetically.-History:...
, Laurens, Chester
Chester County, South Carolina
Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 34,068; in 2005 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had dropped to 33,228. Its county seat is Chester.-Geography and climate:...
, Fairfield, Greenwood, and Saluda counties. Forest headquarters of both South Carolina forests are located together in the state's capital city of Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
History
In July, 1936, President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
proclaimed the Sumter a separate National Forest. The Sumter is named for Thomas Sumter
Thomas Sumter
Thomas Sumter nicknamed the "Carolina Gamecock" , was a hero of the American Revolution and went on to become a longtime member of the Congress of the United States.-Early life:Thomas Sumter was born near Charlottesville in Hanover County, Virginia in 1734...
, a leader of patriot regular and military forces in the South Carolina piedmont during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and war hero. The lands that became the Sumter were predominantly eroding old farm fields and gullies or extensively logged forests. Once the lands became part of the Sumter, the process of controlling soil erosion, regulating the flow of streams and the production of timber began. Over time, the land has been slowly restored and has become productive again.
Andrew Pickens Ranger District
The Andrew Pickens Ranger District is situated in the mountains of northwest South Carolina in Oconee County. Local place names and streams attest the Cherokee Indian heritage of the area, including the Chattooga, ChaugaChauga River
The Chauga River is a tributary of the Tugaloo River in Oconee County, South Carolina.-Course:The Chauga River's source is the confluence of Village Creek and East Village Creek about south of Mountain Rest, South Carolina, in the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest...
, Cheohee, Tugaloo
Tugaloo River
The Tugaloo River is a river bordering the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina. It is fed by the Tallulah River and the Chattooga River, which each form an arm of Lake Tugalo, on the edge of Georgia's Tallulah Gorge State Park. The Tugaloo then flows out of the lake via Tugaloo Dam,...
, Toxaway, Keowee
Keowee River
The Keowee River is created by the confluence of the Toxaway River and the Whitewater River in northern Oconee County, South Carolina. The confluence is today submerged beneath the waters of Lake Jocassee, a reservoir created by Lake Jocassee Dam....
, Oconee, Tamassee, and Jocassee rivers or creeks. The Ranger District is named for Andrew Pickens
Andrew Pickens (governor)
Andrew Pickens, Jr. was an American military and political leader who served as the 46th Governor of South Carolina from 1816 until 1818.-Biography:...
, commander of South Carolina rebel militia during the American Revolution. The ranger district offices are located near Mountain Rest
Mountain Rest, South Carolina
Mountain Rest is an unincorporated community near the Chattooga River in Northwestern Oconee County, South Carolina....
.
Enoree Ranger District
The ranger district offices are located in WhitmireWhitmire, South Carolina
Whitmire is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, along the Enoree River. The population was 1,512 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Whitmire is located at ....
, just between Union and Newberry. Interstate 26 runs along the southwest side of the district. US Hwy. 176 and SC Hwy. 72 crisscross the district.
Long Cane Ranger District
The Long Cane Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest is located in western South Carolina, along the Georgia border. It is spread around the towns of Greenwood, Abbeville, McCormick and Edgefield.The ranger district offices are located in Edgefield
Edgefield, South Carolina
Edgefield is a town in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,449 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Edgefield County.Edgefield is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:...
.
Today
The Sumter National Forest includes approximately 2859 acres (11.6 km²) of the Ellicott Rock WildernessEllicott Rock Wilderness
The Ellicott Rock Wilderness was designated in 1975 and currently consists of surrounding the point at which Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina come together. It is the only wilderness that straddles three states...
, the only wilderness to straddle three states (South Carolina, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
). The Sumter also has, as its western border, the Chattooga River
Chattooga River
The Chattooga River is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina, and it stretches to where it has its confluence with the Tallulah River within Lake Tugalo, held back by the Tugalo Dam...
, a Wild and Scenic River. The Andrew Pickens District is also home to 15 waterfalls with drops ranging from 12 feet (4 m) to 75 feet (23 m).
Forests
The Enoree and Long Cane Ranger district support Southeastern mixed forestsSoutheastern mixed forests
The Southeastern mixed forests are a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of the United States.-Setting:This ecoregion covers the Piedmont of the eastern United States, stretching in a broad arc from Maryland southwest to Mississippi. It is distinguished from neighboring ecoregions by elevation...
. The Andrew Pickens ranger district has Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests
Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests
The Appalachian-Blue Ridge Forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of the Eastern United States, delineated by the World Wide Fund for Nature.-Setting:...
.